Fluid fuel burner having preheating and superheating mechanism for air and steam employed in the burner



G. M. WILHELM 2,528,984

ING AND SUPERHEATING MEGHANIsM EDR AIR AND STEAM EMPLOYED 1N THE BURNER Nov. 7, 1950 FLUID FUEL BURNER HAVING PREHEAT Filed June 27, 1946 A INVENToR. 61 M W/L H152. M

,4 rfo/e/vf-y Patented Nov. 7, 1.950

FLUID FUEL BURNER HAVINGPREHEATING AND SUPERHEATINGv MECHANISM FOR EMPLOYED IN THE AAIR AND STEAM BURNER George Mason vvilhelni; New York, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1946, Serial No. 679,609

, v 4 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel burners and more particularly to the type that employs fluid fuels.

One of the objectsof the: invention is the pro- (Cl. 158-74) v vision of a new and improved fluid fuel burner having provision for producing` superheated steam and for introducing the same into the interior of the fuel stream for relongating the flame and for assisting in combustion.

Another object of the inventionV is theprovision of a new and improved fluid fuel burner having novel valve means for supplying air or aqueous fluid to the flame or for simultaneously supplying both air and aqueous fluid in various proportions to the burner for assisting in burning the fluid fuel. -v i A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved burner forr generating superheated steam for dischargingv the same in the interior of the burning flame for assisting inthe combustion of the same,

A further object of the invention' isthe provision of a new andimproved fluid fuel burner that is provided with novel means' for wcontrolling the supply of both steam and a'ir to the burner, the parts being so constructed that either may be supplied to the burner tothe exclusion of the other, or both'supplied simultaneouslyl as may be desired.

Another object of the invention is the provisio of la new and improved `burner having novel means for pre-heating thefuel and discharging the same in a hollow 'rotating mass into 4the conibustion chamber and simultaneously discharging s uperheated steam into the center of the rotating mass for assisting combustion.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved fluid fuel burner .that is simple in construction, efficient in opera-Y tion, composed of few moving parts, and that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.V

' Other and further objects and advantages vo fl the invention will appear from the following de-` scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which, f l

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the burner;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is a section onV line 4,;4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on line` 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 5- -6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on line I-l of Fig. 1.'

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character I0 designates the burner assembly, in general, which comprises a rear. or feed section I I. for supplying air and'fuel to the burner; an nter-u mediate or central section I2 for controlling the .amounts of fluid supplied to the burner; andthe forward or housing section I3 for housing the preheater I4 and for forming the combustion lchamber I5,

The rear section II comprises a fan housing I6 for housing the air fan II and a motor frame o r casing Igfor housing the motor I9 and the oil pump 2li, as will now be described. The fan hous-` ing I6 forms the rear end of the burner assembly and is a hollow casing closed at its forward end and with its rear end wall 2I provided withV a peripheral flange 22 for attachment purposes and having an axial `opening 23 for the air intakeof the fan or blower Il. The fan I1 may be of the conventional squirrel cage type and is mounted within the hollow of the casing I6 on the armature shaft24 of a motor assembly I9. The shaft2'4 is-journaled at one end in the forward end 25 of the casing I6 as shown at 26. The air enters the passage 23 into the central portion of the fan and is forced radially outwardly by centrifugal action into and along the air passage 48 provided inthe housings I6, I8 and I2- of theburner assembly, ,as will presently appear.

The forward portion of the rear or feed section I I of Lthe burner assembly comprises the cupshaped hollow motor frame or jcasing I8 having the end wall 2I. This casing contains a motor assemblyvl 9 of any Well known construction. The rotor` 28 of -the'motor is mounted within the motor casing or frame I8 on the armature shaft 24 which in turn is journaled at its forward end in the front end wall 2| of the motor frame or casing I8 as at 3| Since the motor is of the usual or any well known construction, it is not thought necessary to further illustrate lor describe the same any further than to state that the rotor member is shown diagrammatically at 28 and the stator at 30.

` Dowel or guide pins 32 between the adjoining ends of thefan and motor casings or housings I6 and I8 position those housingsrelative to each other in assembling the parts. The inner or forward end. of the motor casing 28 is provided witha radial attaching flange 33. Y j f The forward side of the end wall 2| of the motor housing or vframe I8 is recessed on its front sideas atY 34'for cooperating with a recess 35 in thev rear face of a plate 36 for forming a. housing for.` the rotor member 31 of a centrifugal oil pumpf20. The rotor member 31 of the fuel pump 20 is mounted on the .forward end of the armature; shaft 24 andoperates in the space formed by the. opposed cavities 34 and 35. Since the oil pump. is a conventional centrifugal pump no additional burner along the passage 43.

*description is 'thought necessary further than to state that the oil is supplied to the pumpfrom a suitable reservoir Athrough a radial passage 39, Figs. 1 and 2, and an axial passage 4| which' delivers the o-il axially to the center of the pump where the blades or disc of the rotor 20 throw the .same by centrifugal action into the radial opening 42 for forcing the same under pressure along the passage 43. A hand operated valve 44a. may be employed for controlling the flow of oil to the casing I8 and the plate 36 position the plate and casing IS while the parts are being assembled.

The fan housing I6, motor frame or casing I8, and plate 36 are held in assembled relation onto the intermediate or control section I2 by the assembly bolts 44 which extend through alined openings in a flange 45 on the section I2 and through alined openings in the plate 36 and flange 33 and are tapped into the flange 22 of the housing I6.

In event air and fluid fuel under pressure are available the fan, pump, and motor may be omitted and the air and fuel passages 48 and 43 `at the rear end of the housing l2 connected directly tothe air and fuel pressure reservoirs, respectively.

The intermediate or control section I2 of the burner is in two parts comprising the rear or Valve housing `41 and the front or connection housing 49. Both housings are hollow and have mating flanges 5| and 52 which are clamped together by threaded bolts 53. This section is made in two parts to facilitate assembly. Any suitable arrangement will serve the purpose. But, as shown, the housing 41 is cupshapedV with its forward end closed and forming a partition 54 between the control vsection and the forward portion of the burner assembly. This partition 54 is provided with a central port 55 in the form of a tapered recess opening into a passage 60 extending through the partition.

Means are provided for supplying either water orv air or both to the port 55 for promoting the combustion of the-fuel. Such construction will now be described. Y

An angular fuel passage '51 isprovided in the bottom wall of the housing 41. It extends radially into the partition 54 across vthe oil passage 43 and then forwardly through the partition as shown in Fig. 1. A hand operated Valve 44a is provided for controlling the flow of fluid fuel from the pump 26 along the passages 43 and 51.

A radial air passage 14 is also provided that extends through the side wall of housing 41 racross the air passage 48 into the forward end of the bore 66 of the housing 41 as shown in Fig.v

1. A manually operated valve 15 controls the amount of air flowing through the passage 14 from the conduit or passage 48.

Slidably mounted within thevalve housing 41 within the bore 69 thereof is the combined water and air control valve 62 which has a cone-shapedA Dowel or positioning pins Suitable means are i verse water passage 65, Figs. 1 and 3, which is adapted to be connected to the water main or other source of supply of water under pressure. A valve 61, Fig. 3, may be provided for controlling the flow of water through said conduit 65. The water passage 65 is in communication with a passage or bore 68, leading into the cylinder bore 69 of valve .housing 41, ras fit-1li.

Appropriate mechanismis provided for supplying air by adjusting the valve 62 to the port 55 during the initial operation of the burner or for supplying .water or water and air thereto during f the final or normal operation of the burner.

Inv the form Y'of construction selected to illustrate onefe'mbodiment of the invention, an air passage 14 leading from the air passage 48 to the `forward end portion of the cylinder bore 68, is provided for conducting air alone to the interior of the bore 69 when the piston is moved rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 where the passage 10 is closed. The passage or port 1-0 which is a continuation Y ofthe water passage 68 isI closed when thevalve v62is slid 4rearwardly to the position shown. The air passage 48 has an extension 14 that opens into the forward end of the cylinder bore 69 through the side wall of the cylinder for delivering air to the bore in front of rthe valve 62 when the valve 62 is slid rearwardly asshown in Fig. v1'. The arrangement of the parts is such that the passage 18 may be opened while the passage 14 isY closed or vice versa or -both passages partly opened, one being opened while closing the other. I'his is accomplished byl so constructing the valve 62 that'the distance between the passage 64 and the front end of the valve 62 is substantially the same as the space between the passages 16V and 1-4.. As shown, the passage. 1 8 is closed and .the passage 14 wide open, butby movingthe valve .62 forwardly toits limit of movement 4the passage 10 will aline with the passage .6.4. and the passage 14 be closed by Valve 6 2 orby the projectionl 63 seating inthe recess-5.5.

. The valve 6 2 is,A limited in itsrforward. move-j mentl by Athe end wall ofr the housing I2 and'by .tact with a resilient 'split retainerringd EY seated in an annular groove in the cylinder bore 69. Y ,f T Ifhe valve `62 is manually controlled by a suitable -lever 11, Fig. 3, pivoted as-at 18to the hous ing ,41. .f The inner endof the lever 11v is bifurcated as, at 19 and the furcations are pivoted to a b locl; 8| Figs. 1 and 3, by a pivot 82. The rear end, of the valve 62 isY recessed as at 83Fig. l, and the block 8| is pivoted yat its forward end within the recess by the pivot 84, Figs. 1 and 4, which is arranged at rightangle Vto the pivot 82 so as to provide freedom of movement ofthe lever and valve. Any conventional means may be provided for Vholding therlever Iin adjusted position, such as a toothed quadrant fixed on the housing 41 and a spring pressedslatch carried by the'lever. 62 may be moved by thelever 1 1 to its rearmost4 position as shown in Fig., lf'forlopeningtheair passage 14 to the p ort 55 andclosingf the water passage 18 vor it may be moved to its' extreme forward position for closing the-air passage 14 and openingwide the vrwater passage 10 to the passage,64 'ori moved to intermediate positions for partially opening .both passages 10 and 14 to varying'extents.

It will ythus be'. seen, that the valvek an angular air passage 1| which opens at one end into the air passage 48 and at its other end `it is in communication with a conduit 58 leading r80; and for connecting the port 55 to the rear end 6I of the super-heater coil |06 as will later be described.

y The forward portion of the burner assembly comprises the housing I3 which is hollow and open at both ends. It is a cylinder and its rear 'end telescopes within the forward end of the housing 49 and is fixed in position therein by set screws 85 extending at intervals around the forward end of the housing 49.

Slidably mounted Ywithin the housing I3, but anchored therein, is the preheater and mixer unit 86 which comprises a spider member 81, Figs. 1 and 5, seated in a counterbore in the rear end of the housing I3 and held in position therein by a split retainer ring 88. The spider member 81 is provided with a hub portion 89 having radially extending arms or spokes 9|, Fig. 5, and an axial opening 92 through the hub. The spaces between the spokes form openings through which pipes and Ipipe nozzles extend as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 5.

i The spokes 9| have an integral hollow forwardly extending tapered projection 93, Fig. 1, which is in the form of a hollow truncated cone having its .base concentric with the central opening 92 and integral with said spokes. The opening through the forward end of the conical projection is considerably enlarged and is of substantially the same diameter as the rotating drum of the preheater as will shortly appear.

The mixing and preheater mechanism comprises a cylinder supporting member 94 having annular flanges or spider arms 95 and -96 at its ends which engage the housing I3 and position the cylinder member `94. The forward end of the casing or housing I3 is counterbored to form an annular shoulder 91, Fig. 1, against which the arms of the outer flange or spider 96 of the supporting member 94 are seated, as clearly shown in Fig. 1,- and held in such position by a spider flange 98 on the preheater I4 and by a split retainer ring l99 which is seated in a groove in the interior surface of the housing I 3 and engages the flange 98. These flanges are in the form of spiders having radially extending arms or spokes between which the ends of the superheater coil |06 extend as shown in Figs. 1 and '1.

Rotatably mounted within the cylinder member 94 is a drum member |00 that is provided with inwardly extending vanes |0I which are arranged spirally on the interior surface of said drum. The drum may be provided at opposite ends with antifriction bearings as |02. As shown, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis on ball bearings which have their races |02 seated against shoulders |02a, Fig. 1, formed bycounterboring the ends of the cylindrical member 94 and against shoulders |021) formed by reducing the ends of the rotating drum |00 and held against said tapered and threaded at its rear end as at |04 forconnection to one end |05 of thev pipe or conduit |06 that leads from the superheater 90 ,as shown in Fig. 1. The preheater is rigidly held axially within the drum |00 by its iiange 98 on its front end which is in the form of a spider having arms or spokes extending radially out,- wardly of flange 96. The spider ange y96 is spaced from the drum |00 sufflcientlyvto provide clearance for the rotation of the drum with its spiral vanes. The rotating drum is slightly spaced forwardly of the front end of the forward projection 93 of the spider 9| as shown in Fig. 1. The flange or spider 98 holds the preheater or core member I4 axially within the rotating drum |00 and the annular space between-the drum |00 and preheater or core member I4 forms a preheating and mixing chamber IIO that is open at both ends and into lwhich the liquid fuelv from the fuel pump discharge passage 42 flows and is discharged therein under pressure through a nozzle on the forward end of conduit 59. Nozzle 80 is flat and curved laterally to conform to the curvature of the end of the chamber |I0. When desired, air under pressure is supplied to this preheater chamber ||0 through the air passage 48, Valve 13, air passages 56, 58 and nozzle 12.` The nozzle Y12 is also flattened and curved laterally to conform to the curvature of the chamber ||0. The amount of air admitted is controlled by the manually operated valve 13.

A superheater is provided for superheating.

the air or steam as it passes through the coil 90 for heating the core or preheater member I4 for preheating the fuel or fue-l mixture that passes through the preheating chamber ||0 and for disassociating the hydrogen and oxygen more or less in the superheating operation. As shown in Fig'.

1 the superheater 90 comprises a coil of pipe |06 mounted within the combustion chamber I5 in front of preheater and mixer unit or assembly 86. The inner or rear end 6| of the coil |05 is attached to the passage 60 of the port 55 by the connector 30o and extends forwardly between the spokes or arms of the spiders 81, v95, 96 and 98 and is continuous with the superheater coil |06, of the superheater 90. The opposite or forward end |05 of the coil |06 is connected to the preheater or core member I4 as at |04 by a suitable union nut or pipe connector |09.

In Fig. 1 is shown the position of the parts of the burner assembly during the initial operation of the burner. In this position, the lever 11 has been moved forwardly for moving the valve 62 rearwardly for closing the water passage 10 and for opening the air passage 14 and opening the port 55 to the air, so that air and fuel only is fed to the burner while heating up the superheater and preheater members. YAir under pressure then from the fan l1 passes along the passages 48 and 18 into the air sluice 40 formed between the valve 62 and the partition 54, and on through the port 55 into the rear end 6| of superheater coil |96 and on into said coil where it is superheated by the superheater 90 and discharged by the outer end |05 of the coil combustion chamber into the interior ofl the whirling mass of fuel where it mingles with the heated fuel and promotes combustion of Said.

fuel.

The fuel is discharged from the pump 31 through the passages 42, 43, 51, 59 and nozzle 8 0 into the. preheating space H0, where itjimpin'ges. onl the vanes 'Ill for rotating the drum IU for rotating and atomizing the fuel. The fuel into the combustion chamber Where it burns'and the flame is projected forwardly by virtue o-f the pressure of the air. Y

The pressure of the airwill be pressure imparted to it by the fan I? plus the added pressure due to superheating the air which will be considerable so that the flame will be elongated forwardly for providing anextended surface contact with the boiler or other device that is being heated. During the initial operation of the burner the valve I3 may be entirely closed, or if desired, it may be partly open. If partly opened, air will be discharged from the fan Il through passages 48, Il andv *5&3 and nozzle 'I2 into the Y preheater chamber H0 for mixing with the fuel preparatory to ignition in the combustion chamber I5. o

After the coil IE6 has become superheated, the lever FI is moved rearwardly for moving the valve 62 forwardly for closing the air supply through the passage 'Id and for alining the port 'I6 with the passage 6d so that water will flow from the passage 68 to the coil 105 through the passage 10, 64, and port 55 into the end 6I of coil |06 and be converted into steam and the steam superheated. Since water contains more or less free oxygen in its mass and since by superheatng steam more or less of the steam particles will be disassociated into free hydrogen and oxygen, the super-heated steam will pass through the preheater I4 and heat the fuel passing through the preheater chamber Iii). The superheated Steam will be projected forwardly in the center of the preheated rotating mass of fuel pro'ecte.d from the preheater chamber IIB for promoting combustion and since the steam is now underhigh pressure it will function like the heated air as noted above to elongate the flame forwardly beyond the end of the burner for imparting heat by iiame contact to a boiler o-r any other object that is being heated.

By adjusting the lever 'I7 between its limits of movement and' adjusting the valves I5 and B1' any desired proportion of air and water may be supplied to the superheater and burner for promoting combustion.

If desired, additional air may be supplied to and mixed with the fuel in the preheater chamber IIU preparatory to its discharge into the combustion chamber. This air flow is through the passages 48, 'II and 58 and nozzle 'I2 and the amount of air admitted is controlled by the manually operated valve J3. It will thus be seenV that the fuel is preheated, that superheated air or steam is employed for preheating the fuel, that free oxygen in the water and disassociated oxygen and hydrogen of the superheatedsteam is utilized for promoting combustion of fuel, that fuel may be mixed with air in the preheater chamber and that air or steam or both may be superheated and discharged into the center of the rotating mass of discharged fuel for elongating the flame of the burner within the combustion chamber.

The proportionate amounts of fuel, air, and water or steam may be varied as desired for adapting the burner to different types of fluid fuels and to meet different conditions and circumstances to which the burner may be subjected.

I claim as m-y invention:

I. In a fluid fuel burner, `a hollow" casing mem- 8 s ber, a partition for dividing said casing member into a forward compartment and a rear valve chamber, said partition having a port for said valve member, a reciprocatory valve member in said valve chamber, a rotary drum within said forward compartment having one or more internal spirally arranged vanes, a hollow core member having an openforward end within said drum, means for delivering a fluid fuel Vunder pressure into the space between said core and drum for impinging on said vanes for rotating said drum, a coil for superheating a fluid in the forward portion of said compartment forwardly of said core and drum, one end of said coil being connected to said port in said partition andthe other connected with the rear end of said hol,- low core member. Y

2. In a fluid fuel burner, a casing, a partition within said casing dividing the same into a rear valve chamber and a forward compartment,v said partition having a port therethrough, a cylindrical valve member slidably mounted within said chamber and controlling said port, said casing provided with a water conduit, said casing having a compressed air conduit, said casing having an air passage in the wall of saidY chamber casing terminating in an air port in the wall of said chamber adjacent to said partition and hav-ing its outer end in communication with said air conduit, said casing having a water passage'terminating in a water port in the wall of said chamber rearward of said air port, said valve member having a passage leading-from the forward end of said valve member to a valve port onthe peripheral wall of.- said cylindrical valve, said valve port adapted to register with said water port when said valve member is moved to its extreme forward position, a hollow core member within said compartment having a forward open end, a drum rotatable around said core member and spaced therefrom to form a fuel chamber, a coil in front of saidy core member within said compartment and having one end in communication with the rear end of said core and its other end in communication with said rst named port, whereby when said valve member is moved rearwardly air from said air reservoir is free to pass through said air port into one end of said coilI and when said valve member is moved forwardly water is free to flow into said coil from said water conduit, means for moving said valve member and means for delivering fluid fuel to said fuel chamber.

3. An oil burner comprising a casing having a cylindrical axial opening, a rotatable cylindrical oil distributor having inclined varies on its interior, means for directing oil under pressure into said distributor against said vanes for causing said distributor to rotate, a hollow core member having its forward end open around which said' distributor is rotatable and means including a valve for discharging air into the interior of said core when said valve is in one position andl for delivering an aqueous fluid into said core when said valvev is in another position and a coilA in front of said core having one end connected to the rear end of said core and itsv other end' connected to said valve for receiving air or aqueous. fluid delivered by said valve.

4. An oil burner comprising means forrningfaV hollow housing open at its forward end, a hollow cylindrical supporting member within said hous- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 457,801 Sturt/avant Aug. 18, 1891 516,069 Ames Mar. 6, 1894 767,079 McMurtrie Aug. 9, 1904 1,244,329 Hinz Oct. 23, 1917 1,417,520 Hardinge May 30, 1922 1,585,221 Wine May 18, 1926 1,784,747 Peckelho Dec. 9, 1930 2,095,242 Dick Oct. 12, 1937 

